Myths About Software Development

It’s no secret, software has become an integral part of our everyday lives. It wasn’t all that long ago since the first programming language was invented, Fortran was released in 1957 and the world wide web is only 32 years old this year. Software development and programming is still seen as a bit of a

It’s no secret, software has become an integral part of our everyday lives. It wasn’t all that long ago since the first programming language was invented, Fortran was released in 1957 and the world wide web is only 32 years old this year. Software development and programming is still seen as a bit of a dark art to most people. There are myths preventing us from fully understanding how business processes can be automated or improved by efficient computer programming. These improvements can lead to substantial time and cost savings as well as increased profits for your business. 

Software development affects everyone, and perhaps because of its importance, there are too many misconceptions floating around about what it is and what it does.

Here at Reach we would like shed some light on the most popular misconceptions about software development. 

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Myth #1 – Software Development Comes With A Hefty Price Tag

Perhaps this is the most popular myth about software development. Whilst it is true that elaborate, custom software might come at a high price tag, many factors influence the overall cost. The development team you choose, the software you’re looking to build and the features you want to be included all effect the final price. Some software development can be very cost effective. For instance,  if you want to build a quality product that provides a simple service but don’t need tons of bells and whistles, the development process should be fairly straightforward and far less pricey than you might expect. If your software takes off, you can worry about adding additional features later, once you have the funding to support them.

Myth #2 – Software Development Is A Formulaic Process

Most people believe that software development is similar to building a house from a blueprint. The team just has to stick to the plan. False, each project is different, Because of this, there’s no magic formula for creating a product — every single one has a unique set of requirements, unless, of course, the project is very simple and small-scale. But even requirements can change during development. Complex projects demand innovation. Since the software development process is rarely a linear path, there are often bumps and hiccups along the way. Software products can be affected by both internal and external changes. Moreover, new ideas and insights can come daily. 

Myth #3 – The Release Of a Product Equals The End Of A Software Development Project

Releasing your product might signify toy that the software development process is over but that is far from the truth. In fact, development never really ends. You will need to tackle bugs and other issues that may arise, add new features and possibly build new releases. This is why the software development cycle (SDLC) is considered to be ongoing. There needs to be an ongoing process of improvement and revisions. As well as testing for bugs in order to provide the best quality product.

Myth #4 – Adding Or Changing New Features Is Quick & Simple

Software of course can be changed. Some basic changes can be implemented easily, while others may have effects that ripple through the entire system. These may then need extensive testing and debugging. It equates to more than changing a few lines of code.

Myth #5 – You Can Build A Perfect Product On The First Try

Striving for perfection is not a bad thing. Yet, with such a lengthy and complex task as software product development, this might not be the best approach. If you focus on building a complete application, just as you’ve imagined it all at once you might end up having to throw away most of the job you’ve done. A far better option would be to follow an iterative approach and start small. Test out your idea before you go all in. Building a minimum viable product to first try out your concept and collect user feedback is a far better approach than trying to do it all at once. 

Myth #6 – More People In The Team Means Faster And Better Development

You may like to think that you will save time and improve the efficiency of project by adding more developers to the mix but that is often not the case. It could actually slow down the process, its a case of “too many cooks spoil the broth” situation. Having unnecessary hands involved in the process may lead to more errors and meddling with a product. It can also slow down the project turnaround. Furthermore, adding more team members can lead to more confusion. You’ll have to onboard people, which eats uptime, and you’ll be disrupting ongoing communication, workflow and teamwork.

In Summary

We hope this article has succeeded in clearing up some of the myths and misconceptions. As well as allaying some fears associated with software development.

Our team of expert developers are dedicated to delivering bespoke digital software solutions and ground breaking Applications. With Reach Studios you can expect intuitive experiences, through a blend of beautifully crafted design and cutting edge technology.

Got any questions about the Software Development process? Get in touch with our team today and let us help with your next project.